Montreal, QC Meeting Planning Overview

There are many reasons organizations and groups continue to meet in Montréal. Here are six of our favorite compelling reasons our team and our city is a great match for your big event.

The Ease of Doing Business

Planners need a destination that makes things simple. At Tourisme Montréal, we partner you with an in-house project manager, a single point of contact for each step of the way. The process is streamlined.

Connection to People That Matter to You

When you choose Montréal, we help enrich your event by connecting you with local industry champions — the type of people that add both brainpower and flair to a meeting.

Great Synergy with Our Partners

We offer a collaborative approach to planning events. It's called Team Montréal: A coalition of the city's meeting and convention industry leaders. When you're backed by the right team, great things happen.

A Rich Delegate Experience

A thriving culinary scene. Over 100 cutting-edge festivals. Undeniable curb appeal — big city attractions with a small town welcome. Take advantage of it.

Easy to Get Anywhere

Montréal is closer than you think. We're a short hop (<2 hours) from many American cities, such as New York and Chicago. International delegates arrive smoothly with direct flights from 130 global destinations.

Easy to Get Around

Ranked as one of the safest cities in the world, Montréal is also compact and convenient. The city's convention center is in the heart of the city — walkable to 15,000 hotel rooms.

Montreal, QC Awards

About Montreal, QC / Additional Info

As North America's leading meeting destination for a fifth consecutive year – UIA rankings – Montréal is the perfect choice for business and incentive groups. Montréal offers European flair and North American energy, outstanding activities, an award-winning convention center, excellent hotels, and offsite venues. See how Montréal works for you.

Montreal's humid continental climate results in major temperature fluctuation between seasons and abundant precipitation, predominantly during the winter. Snowfall averages 213 cm in the winter while rainfall averages 89 cm throughout the year.

Winter temperatures average -15°C, though wind chill often lowers the perceived temperature dramatically. The warmest months of July and August see an average daily temperature of nearly 21°C with humidity. Heat waves often occur in August and October. However, the sunniest and warmest season is summer. During this season a large concentration of festivals are held, making it one of the best times of year to explore Montreal.

Meeting Planning in Montreal, QC

Palais des congres de Montreal

Located in the downtown core about 20 minutes from the airport, the Montreal Convention Centre, or Palais des congres de Montreal, is the city's largest Montreal meeting facility suitable for meetings and events. An eye-catching structure, the centre's exterior consists primarily of large, multi-colored glass panes, adding a vibrant and contemporary artistic allure not commonly found in such purpose-built facilities. Inside, the glow of natural light streaming through the rainbow of colors creates a warm atmosphere and showcases the centre's spacious interior.

The centre's Convention Level offers 45,333 square feet made up of 63 meeting rooms. With an overall capacity of 10,000 guests, the selection of meeting rooms includes a single room capable of hosting over 3,000 guests, making it one of the more ideal Montreal meeting facilities for banquets. The Panoramic Level has capacity for up to 1,900 guests and includes an outdoor terrace. Against the backdrop of downtown Montreal, the terrace can accommodate up to 800 people. The Panoramic Level also features VIP lounges with amenities such as a satellite kitchen, coat check, washrooms and a boardroom.

One of the most highly integrated hi-tech meeting facilities in Montreal and even all of Canada, the centre offers audio-visual equipment and wireless Internet, teleconferencing, videoconferencing and webcasting capabilities, as well as a team of certified experts to provide any necessary assistance. On-site catering is provided by Capital Traiteur, whose meals are inspired from global fare. Les Jardins food court, adjacent to the outdoor terrace, is also available, offering a variety of pleasant and wholesome selections ranging from salads, delicatessen sandwiches and pizza. Two parking lots with a total of 1,600 spaces are available for travelers by car, though the centre is also connected to the subway system and Underground City.

During its expansion and renovation phase from 2000 to 2002, the Palais de congrs made efforts to reduce energy consumption in a movement to encourage and promote sustainable events. As the 3rd Canadian city to receive the Go Green certification of excellence from the Building Owners and Managers Association of Quebec, this Montreal meeting facility has been recognized for its reduction of both energy and water consumption, recycling, use of non-toxic and recycled material and management of ozone-depleting substances, among other strategies. The Montreal Convention Centre proved its skill when it hosted the green/carbon neutral Conference of the Parties to the United Nations' Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2005.

Other Convention Centers in Montreal, QC

Montreal, QC Airport Information

Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL)

Approximate taxi fare: $38.63 USD

The Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport handles all commercial passenger traffic in the city and serves as the headquarters for Air Canada and Air Transat. Roughly 10 miles from the city center, the airport has direct flights to and from about 120 regular and seasonal destinations in Canada, the United States, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Central America, South America, Europe and Mexico.

Airport travelers can enjoy a multitude of shops, including the largest duty free store in North America, and eateries from fast food to coffee shops to bars to bakeries. An executive salon also offers a comfortable spot to rest or enjoy a light meal and refreshments or make use of the business center and free wireless Internet. The airport offers short-term, long-term and economy parking, and 19 hotels in the Montreal area offer shuttle service to and from Montreal-Trudeau International.

Montreal, QC Train Information

Central Station

Modeled after New York's Central Station, Montreal's elegant Central Station features a fresco in its Departure Hall that depicts the lives of Canadians as they engage in work and play. The station's halls are home to numerous restaurants, bakeries, a pharmacy and a florist.

Both Canada's VIA Rail network headquartered in Montreal, and Amtrak service the station. VIA Rail provides service to cities across Canada, including Quebec City, Toronto and Ottawa. Amtrak offers service between Montreal and New York on the Adirondack line. All intercity trains also operate out of Central Station.

Montreal, QC Public Transportation

Socit de transport de Montreal (STM)

The Societe de transport de Montreal operates the bus and metro system in the city.

Buses

STM operates over 1,600 buses that run 169 daytime routes and 20 nighttime routes. Notable stops include Mount Royal, the casino and Notre Dame. One-way fare is C$3.25 with reduced rates for children ages 6-11, students and senior citizens. Fare for children under 5 is free. Weekly passes cost C$25.75 and monthly passes cost C$83.

Metro

Serving 289.1 million riders a year, the Montreal Metro is the 2nd largest subway system in the country and is operated by the Société de transport de Montreal (STM). The Metro has 68 stations on four lines. Each designed by different architects, stations feature unique public artwork by some of the most famous artists in Quebec. The Metro runs Sunday through Friday from 5:30 to 1 AM and Saturday from 5:30 to 1:30 AM. One-way fare is C$3.25 with reduced rates for children ages 6-11, students and senior citizens. Fare for children under 5 is free. Weekly passes cost C$25.75 and monthly passes cost C$83.

Underground City

A unique network of attractions, the "Underground City" is a vast network of pedestrian walkways spanning over 20 miles beneath 41 blocks in the heart of Montreal, making it the largest underground network in the world. The walkways allow below-ground access to more than 40 attractions, as well as metro stops. An especially convenient option during the cold winter months, the city is frequented by approximately 500,000 people daily.

The Underground City is open Monday through Wednesday from 9:30 AM to 6 PM, Thursday and Friday from 9:30 AM to 9 PM, Saturday from 9:30 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from noon to 5 PM. Parking is available weekdays for up to 10 hours for C$18, Saturday for C$7 and Sunday for C$6.

Rental Cars

Eight rental car agencies service the airport, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz, National, Thrifty and Dollar. Rental car offices are located on the ground level of the multi-level parking facility.

Taxis

Taxis are abundant in Montreal, with 23 separate companies servicing the city. Convenient for large parties, many taxis are actually minivans that can seat up to six people. Most taxi drivers are bilingual and extremely knowledgeable of the city's streets. The average fare from the airport to the Montreal Convention Centre is C$30, depending on traffic.